Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Calculation of Nutrient Solutions For Hydroponics PDF
Calculation of Nutrient Solutions For Hydroponics PDF
INTRODUCTION
*Plants can tolerate a wide range of watering and nutritional conditions
Howeverfor a commercial operation,
the bottom line is profit which means optimizing plant growth and yield.
*Optimum watering and mineral nutrition are critical for optimum plant growth.
*Optimum watering and nutritional conditions can vary
For different plant species
For the same plant species at different times of its life cycle
For the same plant species at different times of the year
For the same plant species under different environmental conditions
*This chapter describes
Properties of the nutrient solution
The physical systems required to deliver the nutrient solution to the plants
How to calculate how much of each compound to use
DEFINITIONS
*Irrigation = The supplying of water to plants using ditches, pipes, streams, etc.
*Fertilizer = Inorganic salts containing the essential macro and micro elements
necessary for plant growth (see Chapter 7). Also organic compounds that contain
such elements (i.e., manure, fish emulsion, bat guano, etc.) that, when added to
the soil or water, increase its fertility.
*Fertigation = The use of fertilizers in the appropriate combination, concentration and
pH, for every irrigation cycle (usually inorganic for commercial greenhouse
hydroponics and smaller systems, though some hobbyists use organic mixtures).
*Nutrient solution recipe = A list of inorganic compounds, and their final
concentrations in ppm (parts per million or milligram per liter) or mMol
(millimole), etc. This can also include actual amounts of the compounds needed
to achieve the prescribed concentrations, given specific tank volumes, dilution
factors, etc. Also, a list of organic materials to achieve the same ends.
10-1
10-2
10-3
In solution these compounds dissociate into ionic forms (inc.d charge = inc.d EC):
Ex: MgSO4 dissociates into the cation Mg++ and the anion SO4=
Ex: KNO3 dissociates into the cation K+ and the anion NO3Ex: CuCl2*2H2O dissociates into the cation Cu++, the anions 2Cl- plus 2 H2O
NOTE: In a chemical equation the cations are listed first, then the anions.
*Nutrient interactions:
Plants maintain a balance between the cations (positively charged ions) and anions
(negatively charged ions) in their cells and tissues.
Plants also maintain a constant sum of cations in their cells and tissues.
Therefore, if one cation is increased, it may decrease the uptake of others.
Ex: Increasing Mg++ can cause decreases in Ca++ and calcium deficiencies.
Ex: Increasing NH4+ (to increase acidity) can cause decreases in Ca++ uptake.
Interactions between anions are not as common.
Ex: Increasing Cl- can decrease NO3- uptake and visa versa.
*Nutrient uptake rates and mobilities:
Plant roots take up mineral nutrients at different rates.
Ex: NO3-, K+ and Cl- are taken up quickly; Ca+2 and SO4-2 are taken up slowly.
This results in unequal removal of nutrients from the solution.
Once in the plant different ions have different mobilities within the plant.
Ex: Mobile ions include N, K, P (PO4-2), Mg and Cl.
Deficiency symptoms for these ions usually appear in the old growth.
Slightly mobile ions include S (SO4-2), Mn and Mo.
Deficiency symptoms usually appear in the middle and old growth.
Immobile ions include Ca, B, Zn, Fe and Cu.
Deficiency symptoms for these ions usually appear in the new growth.
*Recommended nutrient levels (ppm) according to plant species (Agrodynamics):
CROP
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Peppers
N
200
230
175
P
50
40
39
K
360
315
235
Mg
45
42
28
Ca
185
175
150
However, several crops can grow perfectly fine on the same nutrient solution.
Recipe with three crops (UA CEAC GH): N=189, P=39, K=341, Mg=48, Ca=170
*Plant growth as a function of nutrient concentration in plant tissue:
Plant nutritionists, in the mid-1900s, discovered that there is a
critical nutrient concentration (C), below which plant
growth (G) is reduced or terminated.
Above the critical nutrient concentration is the adequate zone
G
where growth is 100% of maximum.
At high nutrient concentrations, plant growth is again reduced.
This is the toxic zone.
10-4
Input
Container
Output
Container
See picture above: Add one extra dripper and place drip tube into a container.
Elevate one slab (bag) and set it on a slight slope so that it drains into a tub.
Every 24 hours empty both containers. Measure amounts (ml), pH and EC.
Calculate the % output from the measured amounts as follows:
% output = output amount (ml) / # drippers in that slab (bag)
input amount (ml)
X 100
10-5
10-6
*A grower will start with a nutrient solution recipe (many variations exist).
Choose a recipe that has been successful:
For the plant you want to grow.
For your regional location and environmental conditions.
For the time of year you wish to grow.
IF a grower notices deficiency/toxicity symptoms,
THEN adjustments to the recipe can be made to compensate.
*An example: Recipe used by Sunco, Ltd., Las Vegas NV, for tomatoes during Winter
in the mid to late 1990s (See table below).
Most recipes will vary according to stage of plant growth.
pH should be ~6. EC may vary (~1.2-4) but typically ~2.0-3.5.
Ex:
0 6 Week recipe: Higher nitrogen, calcium and magnesium
for good structure/vegetative growth.
6 12 Week recipe: Lower nitrogen and higher potassium
to enhance flower (reproductive) production
12 + Week recipe: To maintain balance vegetative/reproductive
N
P
K
Ca
Mg
Fe
Mn
Zn
Cu
B
Mo
WEEK 0-6
PPM
224
47
281
212
65
2.00
0.55
0.33
0.05
0.28
0.05
N
P
K
Ca
Mg
Fe
Mn
Zn
Cu
B
Mo
WEEK 6-12
PPM
189
47
351
190
60
2.00
0.55
0.33
0.05
0.28
0.05
N
P
K
Ca
Mg
Fe
Mn
Zn
Cu
B
Mo
WEEK 12 +
PPM
189
39
341
170
48
2.00
0.55
0.33
0.05
0.28
0.05
= 170 ppm Ca
= 29 ppm Ca
= 141 ppm Ca
BUT, we dont add the element Ca, we add the compound Ca(NO3)2:
3. The % of calcium in Ca(NO3)2 (from bag)
= 19 % (proportion of 0.19)
Therefore, to find the ppm required for the compound calcium nitrate
set up a ratio:
141 ppm Ca
0.19 (prop of Ca)
= X ppm CaN
1.0 (prop of CaN)
X = 742.105 ppm
or 742.105 mg/l
= 50 gallons
= 189.25 liters
10-8
= 28,088,674 mg
= 28.088674 kg calcium
nitrate for 141 ppm Ca
= 61.795 lb calcium nitrate
OKAY So youve added the appropriate amount of calcium nitrate to get 141
ppm of Ca
BUT, how much Nitrogen did you add? NEED TO WORK BACKWARDS!
6. The final amount of calcium nitrate
= 28,088,674 mg
10-9
4. Take into account the tank size (50 gallons or 189.25 liters)
534.3 mg/l x 189.25 liters
= 101,116.275 mg
6.
101,116.275 mg x 200
= 20,223,255 mg
= 20.223255 kg of KNO3
for 74 ppm N
BUT, how much potassium did you add when you added 20.2 kg of KNO3?
YOU HAVE TO WORK BACKWARDS, AGAIN!
Convert back to mg:
6.
= 20,223,255 mg
10-10
X (mg/l K)
171.2 mg/l KH2PO4
10-11
Final total of K = K from KNO3 (206.6 ppm) + K from KH2PO4 (49.2 ppm)
+ K from K2SO4 (85.2 ppm) = 341 ppm K
NOTE: S is also added in K2SO4. How much S? WORK BACKWARDS
5. Dilution factor: 7,187,715 mg K2SO4 / 200 = 35,938.575 mg K2SO4
4. Tank size: 35,938.575 mg K2SO4 /189.25 l = 189.9 mg/l K2SO4
3. % S in K2SO4 = AWt S (32.1) / MWt K2SO4 (174.3) = 0.184 or 18.4%
The ratio:
0.184 (prop of S)
=
1.0 (prop of K2SO4)
X ppm S________
189.9 ppm K2SO4
X = 34.9 ppm of S
from K2SO4
X ppm MgSO4*7H2O_____
1.0 (prop of MgSO4*7H2O)
10-12
X ppm S_______________
489.8 ppm MgSO4 * 7H2O
10-13
Injector system with bag culture (example: vining crop with fruit clusters)
1. PVC: Source water input (should include an inline pressure gauge)
2. Injectors (various designs usually require either air or water pressure to operate)
Injectors pull concentrated nutrient solution from tanks through tubes
Concentrated solution is diluted by the injectors and added to supply line
Some designs include a mixing tank before solution is sent to the plants
3. PVC connection pipe (from injectors to solenoid valve)
4. Solenoid valve (opens and closes according to programming from controller)
Can be positioned before or after (as shown) the injectors
5. Irrigation controller (various designs programmed to properly fertigate the crop)
6. Poly pipe (runs along each row of plants closed at the end with cap or crimper)
7. Dripper/Emitter (controls the amount of solution applied: i.e., 0.5 gallons/hour)
8. Feed tube (carries solution from poly pipe/dripper up to the plant)
9. Stabilizer peg (various designs holds feed tube in place at the base of the plant)
10. Propagation cube (various sizes used for starting seedlings)
11. Propagation block (various sizes seedlings transplanted into blocks)
12. Slab/bag (various sizes and fillers filled with the grow-out medium)
13. Vine twine wound onto tomahook/other support device (to support the plant)
14. Vine clip (clamps onto twine and clips around stem under sturdy leaf for support)
15. Truss hook (various designs used to support fruit truss/cluster)
10-14